Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], December 15, 1956, Page 7, Image 7

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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Christmas Trees
A Profitable Woodland Crop
For Western Montana Farmers
By L. S. MATTHEW
■ SCS Woodland Conservationist
CHRISTMAS TREES will be the cen
ter of attraction during the holiday sea
son in many homes. Even though they
may travel thousands of miles from
Western Montana, their native land,
they will arrive erect, fresh, and beau
tiful to bring the spirit of Christmas to
millions of families.
For many years the Montana Doug
las-fir has been a favorite Christmas
tree. The number produced since the
first shipments from Eureka, Montana,
in 1927, has increased steadily until
the Christmas tree industry is often
referred to as a million dollar business.
In 1954, production for Western Mon
tana reached an all-time high of three
and one-half million trees.
The Christmas tree industry was a
natural development in the larch-Doug
las-fir forests of Western Montana.
Large areas now producing Christmas
trees were originally cut-over tax-de
linquent lands purchased by farmers
and ranchers for grazing. But favorable
conditions for reseeding resulted in
natural restocking, and the owners
found that within a few years they were
These Christmas trees harvested from
the woods of Western Montana have
been bundled and are ready for ship
ping to various parts of the country.
in the Christmas tree business.
New Harvest Methods
During the early days of the Christ
mas tree industry it was common prac
tice to harvest the best trees, then
move to new areas, but it soon became
no longer possible to cut new areas
each year.
So, the Christmas tree cutter returned
for a second look at the areas where
the first harvests were made. To his
surprise, additional trees had developed
within a short time. He also discovered
that some of the stumps from which
trees had been cut were still growing.
The upper branches had become erect
and in some instances a second tree
could be harvested.
Seeing the possibilities of growing
trees from "turn-ups," cutters began
to trim the stumps to encourage the
growth of a single stem which would
develop into good Christmas trees.
Improve Crown Density
Growers also began to experiment
with various methods of trimming to
improve crown density. Practices var
ied from pruning away lower portions
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of the crown to severe blazing along
the trunk or "scabbing," to check top
growth.
Producers recognized that manage
ment was necessary if Christmas tree
lands were to continue to be productive.
But production was not the only prob
lem. There seemed to be a gradual
decline in the quality of trees.
In 1941, the first soil conservation dis
trict was organized in Western Mon
tana. By 1954, all of the area west of
the Continental Divide was included
within districts. The importance of
Christmas trees as a farm crop (ap
proximately 80 per cent of the trees are
grown on farms), and the need for
maintaining quality in production was
soon recognized by district supervisors.
Cash Returns
Cash returns from Christmas tree
farming will vary from a few hundred
dollars to a substantial part of the farm
income. Because of the possibilities for
annual harvest and the short rotation
required to grow a marketable product,
Christmas trees are a woodland crop
that is most appealing to the farmer.
It is often a family enterprise for
which the returns on labor are high.
Harvesting can be done after other
crops are taken care of and little in
vestment in special equipment is re
quired.
Taxes and fire protection on these
lands are around 15 cents annually. But
the big money for the farmer is the
returns he gets for laber he puts into
harvesting the tree crop. In good going.
This Is a typical Montana Christmas
tree production area. Kalispell, Eureka
and Missoula are the main shipping
points. (SCS photos)
an experienced cutter can average 200
trees or 40 to 50 bales daily.
Prices paid by the concentration
yards have varied over the years. In
1955, concentration yards paid around
$1.65 per bale. During recent years the
price per bale has started around $1.25.
During the cutting season of a few
weeks it is possible for one man to
earn around $2,000.
$4,000 in 30 Days
Last year a cooperator with the Flat
head Soil Conservation District made
around $4,000 in about 30 days cutting
Christmas trees. He and his wife, and
17-year-old son, with the help of a hired
man, cut 3,100 bales of trees. Thirteen
hundred bales were sold for $2.65 per
bale. Another 1,300 were sold to a
trucker for $2.10 a bale, while 500 bales
were sold to a local yard for $1.65 per
bale. Stumpage cost was 42 cents per
bale on 500 bales and 50 cents on 2,600
bales.
A cooperator of the Lake County Soil
Conservation District over a 10-year
period has averaged 2,000 bales annual
ly from 480 acres. Cutting follows a six
year rotation. The owner does most of
the harvesting and carried out some
conservation practices with the cutting
operations.
While interesting and profitable, the
Christmas tree industry is not without
the risks and hazards which accompany
growing and marketing of other farm
crops. In 1947 a Douglas-fir needle cast.
locally called the blight, reached epi
(Continued on page 13)